Behind the Scenes of the Fallout Universe, Gaming’s Most Unexpected Television Success

The Fallout TV series is back to Prime Video, and it's safe to say that fans were agreeably astonished by the quality of its initial run. By depicting the atomic-age, post-apocalyptic United States through the perspectives of three separate characters, it managed to capture multiple facets of the gamer's journey.

We followed vault-dweller Lucy, trying to uphold her morals and discovering that the barren landscape made that exceptionally challenging; Brotherhood initiate Max, the militant faction initiate, who begins to question his organization's authority and creates plenty of trouble in mechanized battle suit; and the Ghoul, a breakout character who has entirely abandoned any sense of morality out in the radioactive badlands.

Setting the Stage for a New Chapter

The debut season's conclusion unveiled a major secret about who helped cause the atomic conflict that condemned a group of people in underground vaults for an extended period. It also left several enigmas open for the upcoming chapter – and, now, hopes are much greater.

“We'd gladly accept ‘pretty good’ – let’s get that on a poster,” remarks Jonah Nolan.

“Going into the first season, people were like, ‘Just get it right’,” adds a key figure from the games. “We are thrilled with the reception to the show, so this time people are bringing more excitement and new expectations.”

The Mojave Beckons for Season Two

The second season is set in the neon-lit city, the backdrop of the 2010’s game Fallout: New Vegas, which is frequently celebrated for having the sharpest dialogue and cast in the series, even if it was somewhat buggy at launch.

“It embodies a desert vibe, a Southwestern essence, that’s so essential to that game,” says the co-creator. “That parched, desolate iconic highway feeling of the game is so much rewarding to incorporate into the show.”

In the show's timeline, a considerable period has passed since the story of the New Vegas game by the time the protagonists make their way there. However, the creators suggest that it will honor the fan's adventure.

The Importance of Physical Sets

The Fallout TV series is praised for its tactile feel – its production team prioritized physical models and sets were constructed, mirroring the improvised nature of the towns in the games.

“Being a genre enthusiast, so many productions I watch, I’m aware that they’re all filmed against a blue screen,” says another of the showrunners. “The whole point of an adaptation, particularly of a video game, is to feel like it’s authentic.”

In fact, almost everything you see on-screen is real, even the legendarily scary mutated beasts known as the apex predators. In the show, they are created using animatronics, and were by all accounts quite terrifying up close.

A Labor of Love

The Fallout series resonates because it is developed by talented film-makers who are also dedicated players, with the help of the visionaries behind the video games. This mutual respect for the world is apparent in the final product.

The new batch of episodes is debuting on a weekly basis rather than as a binge-able batch, representing a shift from the initial release. This approach will create a altered weekly discussion, something the team themselves are eager to engage with.

“It has more depth, it’s more expansive, it’s wittier, it has a lot of surprises,” teases Howard. “I can't wait to seeing what people think.”